Microsoft's Siri Challenger Named

Cortana from Halo is your new friend

Microsoft is introducing its own Siri - Apple's voice control / virtual assistant to Windows phone and "she" will be very familiar to gamers.

The company is not being shy about this either, stating that: "Cortana (for that is 'her' name) the world’s first truly personal assistant, is on her way to save the day." Who is Cortana?

It is "the AI who famously helped the Halo series’ Master Chief save the universe multiple times..." but you probably knew that. It's coming in the next Windows Phone 8.1 update.

According to Windows Phone Group Program Manager Marcus Ash, “Cortana’s appearance in Windows Phone 8.1 is a result of years of work from researchers, engineers and designers across Microsoft. “She is a combination of advanced technology across areas like search, natural language and machine learning that Microsoft has been able to bring to life, along with a distinct personality that is inspired by one of the biggest franchises in Xbox history.”

Halo Franchise Developer Director Frank O’Connor, whose team also worked on the AI, said, “One of the Cortanas is an intelligent, learning AI who is duty bound to help her companion as much as possible, using a staggering database of information combined with real, growing knowledge of that companion – and the other Cortana is, well, the same thing.”